3/28 01:45: According to Peter Abraham of the Boston Globe, he says, “The five-year, $82.5 million deals given to A.J. Burnett and John Lackey came when they were free agents. Beckett is not yet a free agent, but he still could command the same average annual value of $16.5 million for an extension.”

3/27 19:25: According to Gorden Edes of ESPNBoston.com, the contract extension talks between the Boston Red Sox and pitcher Josh Beckett are ongoing, but Edes’ source says that the deal will not match John Lackey’s five-year, $82.5 million contract. The Red Sox also have no desire to go beyond a four year deal. There may be a fear over Beckett’s right shoulder.

Beckett had a history of fraying in his rotator cuff. The past diagnosis led the Florida Marlins to limit his number of pitches.

Over the past few weeks, it was expected a deal would be struck and it would slightly north of Lackey’s deal.

Nick Carfardo of the Boston Globe said a couple of weeks ago that the part of the Beckett negotiations is getting the Sox fair injury protection while still making certain Beckett gets what he’s worth. “There’s been a lot of back and forth on that issue already,” said the source.  “This is something that may take some time.  If it’s a shorter deal of three years, the language may not be required or it may be scaled down.  If it’s longer, then the language would likely have to be included.”  Beckett’s agent Michael Moye is looking at a number of ways to make this part of the deal happen.  The market for pitching appears to have shrunk the past two years, so it may behoove Beckett to sign now.

Beckett, 29, has compiled a lifetime 106-68 record with a 3.79 ERA. You can see Beckett’s contract history and statistics here.